Motor and support therefor



Dec. 10, 1940- P. D. CORNELIUS MOTOR AND SUPPORT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1936- mo 7 9 5. A H Q 00 am W a M a m if m f X k 3 lab. J M V 2 a pa K M3 M40 um I 9 4,

W w l w 7 .@S Q .a I W wmm o, 1940- PQD. CORNELIUS 2,224,143

MOTOR AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 50', 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zvveriiaf: PezuZ D. 6072262/266.

so e Dec. 10, 1940 l UNITED STATES PATENTYOFFICE MOTOR AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Poul Dean Cornelius, Tulsa, th., uslgnor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a. corporation of Application September so, less, Serial No. assess My invention relates to pumping apparatus, and more psrticulurly' to pump spporetus oi the type using it fluid pressure operated pumping motor for octuoting 9. pump in a. wellthrough n sucker rod line or other mechsnlcol connectlon. It also relates to supports-porticuloriy to supports for use withwells and well equipment.

In a. certs-in form of oil well pumping system, it customary to mount a. fluid pressure operated motor in line with e well and to connectthe moving element of said motor directly with a sucker rod line leading down into the well to the pump therein. Ih installations of this choracter, since frequently high s 0 2 Piston movement are used, and since, due to the great I depth of some such wells, cylinders of very substantial cross sectional ores. are employed, it is desirable to provide substantlol quantities of operating medium in close juxtaposition to the pumping motor so that substantial voriations in pressure may be eliminated; oud since very commonly such motors operate single-octlng and have their down strokes opposed by e. substontial back pressure, it is also desirable to hove a volume tank or its equivalent connected to the exhaust from said motor so that exhausting may not be unduly retarded due. to small pipe-size. It is also desirable with motors of this character to be able to move them aside, out oi line with the well, so that access may be had to the latter more conveniently when it .is desired to take up the pump or perform some other operation with respect to the well.

With standard mountings, it has been common to employ a rigidly constructed tower and to suspend flexibly from the top of the tower, or adjacent the top of the latter, a pumping motor cylinder; but as the tower has been rigid, the pumping motor had to be swung to one side, i? withdraws] or the pump was desired, and then did not clear completely the space above the well: and separate volume tanks were commonly employed. 1

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved structure which will permit the meeting of the, needs of a. pumping outfit of the character described, with great compactness, with freedom from radical variations in pressure, and with the possibility of completely clearing the space above the well. It is another object of my invention to provide an improved support for a pump operating motor, or for any other motor to be used in connection with a. well, which will permit the movement of the motor complctely out o! alinement with and completely out (or. it'll-19st motors of the type mentioned may at times be used for drilling functions as well asffor pumping functions, it is still another object of m invention to provide an improved arrangement for supporting a. motor and supplying operating fluid thereto, which will permit the complete movement of the motor out or line with e hole in the earth in conjunction with which said motor is used. his a further object to provide an improved adjustable support. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinolter oppeor. p I

in the occompng drawings, in which-one form which the invention in its various aspects may assume in practice, has been shown for purposes of illustrationv Fig. 1 is at front view of a pumping apparatus in which my invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is o. side view;

Fig. 3 is a. section on the plane of the line 0 of Fig. 1, through a. distributing valve mechanism. 3 mg. 4 is o. fragmentary view, on a. similar section but on an enlarged scale, showing a portion of the distributing valve mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a. view partially in vertical section and partially in side elevation of a. pumping motor forming apart of the pumping apparatus shown.

Referringrto the drawings, it will be noted that r i represents a pumping motor and 2 an improved supportlng means therefor. The construction of the motor i may obviously assume to many forms, but herein I have illustrated a. pumping motor oil the type disclosed in the appllcation of Wade H. Wineman, Serial No. 40,949, now Patent No. 2,184,932, which patent is assigned to the assignee of my present application. This pumping motor includes an upper head l,

a lower head 5, and a. cylinder 6. Within the bore I of the cylinder a'piston 8 is reciprocable.

gether by side rods ii. The lower cylinder head I includes a fluid dtstribution mechanism. sen- M erally designated l2. This comprises a'fluid sup ply connection l3, to which fluid is conducted v through a flexible fluid conductor it, hereinafter more fully described; a fluid exhaust connection 85, from which fluid is conducted through a flex ible connection It, hereinafter more fully described; and a fluid admission and exhaust passage l1 connected to the lower end of the cylinder 1. Septa l9 and 20 respectively separate the passage I! from the supply space l3 and the exhaust space l5. A valve chamber forming ',portion 29. Between the portions 23 and 28 there is formed a groove 30 which is adapted selectively to connect the inlet spacev l3 with the cylinder passage l1 and to connect said cylinder passage H to the exhaust connection 15. The end of the bore 2'! remote from the larger bore 25 is continuously connected with the exhaust space l5 through a connection 3|. supplying fluid to and venting fluid from the end of the bore 25 remote from the bore 21 is provided, and this construction is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The distributing valve 23 carries a check valve element 33 yieldably supported thereon, this element yielding to prevent breakage and to permit the necessary movement of the valve 23, but not yielding under the fluid pressure to which the exposed end thereof may be subjected. In a cap 34 closing the upper end of the bore 25 there is a yieldingly mounted valve 36 having associated therewith passage means31 so arranged that when the stem 38 of the valve is actuated by the valv 23 and the valve 33 is unseated, fluid may flow between the bore 25 and a passage 39. Valve 33 is adapted 'to cooperate with a seat surrounding a passage 4!. When the valve 33 is remote from its seat 40, flow between the bore 25 and passage 4| is possible. Passage 39 opens into the cylinder bore l fairly near the desired upper .stroke limit, being designed to have its mouth uncovered by the lower end of the piston substantially at the end 01' the desired up stroke. Passage fill opens into the cylinder bore 7 near the lower end of the latter,

being uncovered by the upper end of the piston 8 as the latter moves downward, near the lower end of the stroke. Valve 33 also will not be unseated by fluid pressure alone acting directly on it.

The mode of operation of this apparatus will be very readily understood when it is appreciated in Fig. 3, and it will be appreciated that the valve 23 is maintained in fluid-admitting position (the position shown in Fig. 3) due to the fact that the smaller ,end thereof is subjected to a pressure of perhapsfifty to one hundred pounds, while the larger end thereof is subjected only to substantially atmospheric pressure through the to its seat that the back pressure within the Means for [respectively 59, 5? and 58. Referring first to the connection 39, the passages 31 in the valve 36 and the vented upper end of cylinder 7. v

The piston 8 therefore moves upwardly, and when it passes above the mouth of passage 4] nothing happens, because this passage is closed 5 by the valve 33. When, however, the lower end V of the piston passes above the mouth of the connection 39, cylinder pressure passes through the ports. 3! in the valve 33, acts on the larger end area of the valve 23, and throws the valve down 1 to connect passage H with exhaust connection l5. When the valve 23 moves to the position shown in Fig. 4, flow through valve 35 is no longer possible, as the latter closes, but flow through passage 41 will then be possible. The pressure 1 above the valve 23 reduces as cylinder pressure falls, but not below cylinder back pressure, and so the valve remains in the position of Fig. 4 because its larger end is subjected to the same pressure as its lower end. The piston 8 moves downward, after valve 23 has been thrown-and when the upper end of the piston 8 passes beneath the mouth or connection 39 nothing happens, because the valve 35 is held so forcibly bore 25 cannotunseat the valve 36. When, however, the piston gets substantially to the bottom of its stroke and its upper end passes below the mouth of passage 4!, the pressure in the chamber 25 is ventedto atmosphere through the upper 3 end of cylinder 1, and the back pressure acting on the end of the head 28 of the valve will throw the valve again to fluid-admission position. This cycle will continue as long as fluid is supplied to the motor.

With this preliminary understanding of the mode of operation of the motor I, the construction and beneficial nature o1 the support or tripod 2 can bemore readily understood. Herein it will be observed that the tripod is supported 4 on three feet blocks, which are generally des-v ignated 53, 5| and 52. On each of these foot blocks there is suitably held a pivot providing device or pedestal, these being designated 53, 53' and 53" and each comprising a pair of spaced plate members 54 having extending between them a pivot element 55. .1

Each of these members 53, 53' and 53" supports a tripod leg, and the latter are numbered leg 58, this is constructed of pipe or tubing and is hollow throughout its ends and is closed at its opposite ends by head members 59 and 50, respectively arranged at the bottom and the top of the member 55 and welded thereto. Each of the head members 59 and ti? has a flange or web portion projecting therefrom, and the lower one of these portions, Si, is pivotally connected to the pivot-providing device 53 by the. pivot member 55. The upper one, 62, is pivotally connected to a head or support member t3 arranged at the top oi the tripod. 'The length of the member 5a is fixed. The member 55 constitutes an exhaust chamber and has a connection 55, herein leading back to the intake side of a compressor which supplies air to the pumping-motor, when such a system is used. if steam is used, this simply constitutes the return line to a condenser or to a water tank or the like; or may simply exhaust outdoors ii that is necessary-desirably, in the latter case,with a certain back pressure maintained uponit by a suitable automatic valve mechanism. The bottomof the member 56 may be drained through a suitable valve-controlled drain connection 55.

The leg 55 is one of a pair of forward legs, and the leg 55 is the other of these forward legs. The construction and mounting of the leg 55 is very similar to that of the leg 56. How-v ever, in this case the lower end of the leg is closed oil at a slightly higher level than is the case of the leg 58, and the bottom of the leg 58 is provided with a length-adjusting mechanism G6, which may assume any suitable form, but

which is' herein shown as comprising an elongated threaded member and a series of cooper-- ating nuts ,adjustably connecting a pivot piece 59' to leg 55. A fluid supply connection 69 opening into the interior of the body of the leg 58 supplies motive fluidto the latter from any suitable source, and an appropriate valve-controlled drain connection 10 is provided near the bottom of the space within the leg 58. The interior of the leg 58 is connected through the flexible tubing it to the space I! within the valve chest of the pumping motor I; and the flexible connection it connects the space IS'within the valve chest of the motor with the interior of the hollow leg 55, Obviously, by adjustment of the mechanism 68 the position of the tripod top may be laterally varied. This will permit the bringing of the central point of the top member 63 into laterally overlying relation with respect to the well. Forward and backward. adjustment is also possible, as will now be explained.

The top 65 is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm portion 12, to which the rear leg member 51 is connected. This rear leg member is adjustable and is provided at its lower end with a turnbuckle M, which is pivotally connected to the pivot-providing device 55. The upper end of the turnbuckle is connected to a member 15, which forms the outer member of a telescoping joint structure '18, whose upper element is comprised by thelong rod portion 11, which makes up the major portion of the length of the leg 51. A quick-releasable connection 18 permits, upon its withdrawal, a telescoping of the part 11 -with-,

in the. part 15, and a rearward tilting of the tripod to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, which completely clears the space above the well with which this apparatus is adapted to be used.

The head member 63 comprises also a downwardly projecting plate portion 80, to which is pivotally connected, as at 8i, a pair of upstanding, perforated ear portions 82 secured to the top head 4 ohthe pumping motor. Between the ear portions 82, upon a transverse pivot 85, there is mounted a transversely extending arm 86,

whose outer ends provide supports 81 for the connection thereto of flexible elements 88 Each of these flexible elements is provided at its lower end with a turnbuckle 59, and these may be connected, through suitable connecting devices 90, with appropriate attachment devices 9| secured in any suitable manner, desirably below ground level, an appropriate framework extending between the pedestal bloclrs 50 and 52 being one possible method of providing attachment points for the lower ends of the flexible elements 58.

Now referring particularly to the disclosure of Fig. 2, it will be noted that, when the parts are in the full-line position shown, and the tripod is lnits position for the support of the pumping motor I for pumping operation, the leg member 51 is in tension and the leg members 55 and 58 in compression, and the flexible elements 88 are in tension; and that accordingly, the entire apparatus is in a most stable condition. It will be reason of itsmethod of suspension, is. free to adapt itself to perfect alinement with the well over which it is suspended. Any suitable ladder 92 may be extended upwardly to a platform 95, having appropriate guard railings and in turn supporting a ladder 95 leading up to the top, substantially, of the tripod'to a position adjacent the point of motor suspension. Appropriate braces 96 extending outwardly from the leg elements 56 and 58 cooperate with the ladder 92 in providinga support for the platform.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved tripod or tower mounting for the suspension of a motor for drilling or for pumping a well, and that this tripod is particularly adapted for use with pneumatic or other expansible fluid operated, reciprocating, expansible chamber motors, in that the hollow legs 56 and 58 provide volume tanks in which so much space is provided that great fluctuations in pressure in the operation of the motor may be avoided. It will be observed, moreover,- that the tripod or tower mounting is very stable when in use, and yet permits the easy effecting and automatic maintenance of alinement between the axisof the pumping motor and the axis of the well. It will further be noted that merely by slackening the tension of the cables 88 by means of the turnbuckles 89 and then disconnecting thern, and the application of a slight rearward pressure to the forward legs of the tripod, or the application of a slight tension to the rearward leg 51, there can be effected, upon the withdrawal of-the holding device 18, an easy and simple movement 01' the tripod to a position where the space above the well is completely clear. Of course it will be understood that the pumping motor will be disconnected'from the sucker rod line or the like, before the rearward movement of the tripod is made. By virtue of the adjustability of one of the front legs and the rear leg of the tripod, perfect alinement of the pumping motor with the well may be very easily effected. Lateral adjustment may be effected-by the mechanism 56, and forward and rearward bodily adjustment by the turnbuckle structure H;

The construction is simple, involves no expen sive parts, may be largely built up by welding illustration and that the invention may be modifled and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims."

What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of legs, a top to which said legs .are pivotally connected, pivotal mountings for the bases oi said less, more than'half of said legs having associated therewith means for adjusting the eifective length thereof, a support provided by said top, and means for stabilizing said structure including adjustable tension'means for placing a plurality of said legs unded compression and one of "said legs under tension.

2. In combination, an expansible-chamber motor, a tower mounting therefor comprising a 75 plurality of legs, one of said legs being hollow and providing a volume tank, and means for supplying motive fluid to the interior of said hollow leg and for delivering such fluid from said hollow leg to said motor.

3. In combinatioman expansible-chamber motor, a tower mounting therefor including a plurality of hollow legs each providing a volume chamber, means for supplying motive fluid to one of said hollow legs to the'interior of the latter, means for discharging fluid .from the interior of another of said hollow legs, and means for connecting the interiors of said last mentioned pair of legs respectively with the motor inlet and the motor exhaust.

4. In combination, a motor adapted to exhaust against a substantial back 'pressure and have a 1 large drop in pressure between its working pressure and its back pressure, and means for supporting said motor during operation including at least one hollow leg providing within the same a. volume chamber, means for conducting fluid from said volume chamben'and means for connecting motor exhaust to said volume .chamber.

5. In combination, in an apparatus of the character described for pumping wells, a pair of pedestals arranged adjacent to but not inthe same vertical plane with the well, and a third pedestal substantlallylaterally displaced from said first mentioned pedestals, legs pivotally supported by each of said pedestals and having piv.-- otal connections at their upper ends with a top.

a. pumping motor pivotally suspended by said top and positionable, with all of said legs at one side of a. vertical plane including the well in alinement with said well axis, and also out. of alinement with said well axis into positions between said pair of pedestals and said third pedestal but parallel to its first mentioned position,

. when all of said legs remain at the same side of said vertical plane, two of said legs making different angles with a vertical plane passing through their respective pedestals in the diiierent a es-res of suspension of said motor, in alinement with 7 for said motor, means for supplying fluid to said reservoir and for delivering fluid from said reservoir to said motor to operate the latter, said supporting means pivotable to position said motor in vertical allnement with its work or in a vertical position laterally offset from its work.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a tripod having a motor pivotally supported at its upper end and free to aline itself with the axis of its work, and adjustable means acting to maintain one of the legs of said tripod under tension and the remaining legs of said tripod under compression with the axes of the latter legs in a plane deviating only slightly from the motor axis, said adjustable means being adjustable to vary the tension and compression when the legs ar'ein said plane. a

9. In combination, an expansible chamber motor, and means for suspending thesame in alinement with a well including supporting legs respectively formed to provide line and exhaust fluid volume tanks for said motor and arranged at opposite sidesot the latter.

' 10. In combination, a motor, and supporting means therefor including a. pair of supporting legs in compression, adjustable tension means acting in lines lying at opposite sides of a plane including the axes of said supporting legs for placing said supporting legs under compression when said motor is in its work-performing position, and a pivotal support for said motor carried at the top of said legs and constructed to provide for free swinging of said motor relative to each of said legs.

11. In an apparatus of the character de'-- scribed; a tripod having plvotally adjustable legs, at least one of said legs having assocated therewith means for adjusting its eflective length, a motor plvotally supported at the upper end of said tripod, and adjustable means acting to maintain one of the legs of said tripod under tenslon and the remaining legs of said tripod under compression, said adjustable means being adjust-' able to vary the tension and compressionfor any given pivotal adjustment of said legs.

PAUL-DEAN CORNELIUS. 

